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CHICO, CA (8-17-06) - The lure of a $50,000 first prize has
spiked interest in the 53rd running of the prestigious Gold Cup Race of
Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Four straight days of racing
will be conducted on the 1/4 mile clay oval located at the Silver Dollar
Fairgrounds. Racing will get underway with the California Sprint Car Civil
War series and Wingless Invitational on Wednesday September 6. The World
of Outlaw winged Sprint cars will hit the Speedway Thursday thru Saturday
September 7-9. Contenders from the National Sprint Tour, the Golden State Challenge
Series and regular Silver Dollar Speedway series will join the outlaw
drivers. The $50,000 offered by track promoter John Padjen is twice the
former winners share of $25,000. In all over $200,000 will be paid out
over the four days of racing.
The Gold Cup began its’ long span as California’s premier short track
event in 1951 at Sacramento’s Hughes Stadium. The race moved to new
quarters on the Sacramento riverbanks at West Capital Raceway in 1956. The
Gold Cup expanded to a three-day show in 1975 and went to four days in
1990. Silver Dollar Speedway has been the home for “Gold Cup” since 1980.
The Wednesday Civil War program, and Wingless Invitational has been a
season long competition among local drivers to be among the eligible
drivers for the Wednesday night Gold Cup kick off. The statewide Civil War
drivers must be in the top 32 of 111 series drivers after competition at
many raceways since May. The Wingless cars are a sprint car without a
wing. 80 drivers have raced at Chico and Placerville to earn a place in
the 24-car field.
The Outlaws will be led by former Gold Cup champions Donny Schatz of
Fargo, North Dakota, and two time champion Jac Haudenschild of Wooster,
Ohio. Joining competition will be newly crowned Golden State Challenge
Champion Jonathan Allard of Chico. Nearly one hundred drivers are expected
for the three-day program.
Complete race programs will be held each night. The field will be split
between Thursday and Friday nights. Timed qualifying, heat races, and main
events will be held each night. Accumulated points during qualifying days
will position cars in Saturday’s Gold Cup Race of Champions.
Wednesday night tickets are general admission. All seats are reserved
for the remainder of the days. Tickets are now on sale. Information is
available at www.johnpadjemotorsports.com or at 916-969-7484.
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